On February 17, Chargé d'Affaires Xie Yongjun was invited to the 2025 Lunar New Year Celebration at Parliament, hosted by the New Zealand Ministry for Ethnic Communities, where he delivered a speech. The event brought together over 400 attendees, including Rt Hon Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Hon Mark Mitchell, Minister for Ethnic Communities, several members of Parliament, members of the diplomatic corps in New Zealand, and representatives from the Chinese and other Asian communities.

Chargé d'Affaires Xie Yongjun conveyed Ambassador Wang Xiaolong's warm greetings for the Year of the Snake. Emphasizing that "Chinese New Year, Celebrate Together," he expressed his joy in celebrating the festival with attendees during Wellington’s warm summer. He also acknowledged the significant contributions of the Chinese community in enriching New Zealand’s multicultural tapestry and strengthening bilateral ties between China and New Zealand. Using the event as an example, he elaborated on President Xi Jinping’s Global Civilization Initiative, highlighting that human civilization derives its splendor from diversity and thrives on mutual learning.

Reflecting on China’s achievements and the progress of China-New Zealand relations over the past year, Chargé d'Affaires Xie underscored that China has always regarded New Zealand as a valued partner and true friend. As China further deepens its all-round reforms and advances its modernization, and as New Zealand pursues growth, both countries have even greater opportunities for cooperation. He reaffirmed China’s commitment to working with New Zealand to build a bilateral relationship featuring mutual respect, inclusiveness, orientation towards cooperation, and common development, aiming to promote shared prosperity while contributing to regional and global peace and stability.

Prime Minister Luxon and Minister Mitchell, among others, recognized the Chinese and other Asian communities’ contributions to New Zealand’s economic, social, and cultural development. They praised their hard work and dedication, noting that these communities serve as role models for the rest of New Zealand. The leaders reaffirmed the New Zealand government’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where all ethnic groups, including Asians, feel safe and supported. Extending their New Year greetings in Chinese, they celebrated the occasion with warmth and goodwill.

Prime Minister Luxon also echoed Chargé d'Affaires Xie’s remarks, stating, “As Minister Counsellor Xie said, in our respective relationships with different countries throughout the region, there’s more work for us to do together to deepen those ties and create opportunities for people in New Zealand, but also abroad.”